CompTIA CASP+ Practice Test

Which aspect of the email system assists in proving the identity of the email sender during a legal investigation?

1. Delivery confirmation

2. Email headers

3. Digital signatures

4. Content security controls

The correct answer is: Digital signatures

The aspect of the email system that assists in proving the identity of the email sender during a legal investigation is digital signatures. Digital signatures operate using cryptographic techniques to provide authentication and ensure the integrity of the message. When an email is sent with a digital signature, it is encrypted with the sender's private key. The recipient can then verify this signature using the sender's public key, confirming that the sender is indeed who they claim to be and that the message has not been altered during transmission. This authentication process is crucial in legal scenarios where the authenticity of the sender's identity is essential for establishing trust and accountability. Digital signatures not only affirm the sender's identity but also provide a means to validate the email's integrity, making them a vital component in digital communications for legal purposes. Other aspects, such as email headers, may contain routing information and timestamps but do not inherently verify the sender's identity. Delivery confirmation can indicate that an email was received but does not authenticate the sender. Content security controls focus on protecting the content of the message from unauthorized access rather than ensuring the identity of the sender. Thus, digital signatures are the most effective mechanism for proving sender identity in a legal context.